St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-01-16

his love for ''trumpery''-mere girliShnesS-
vet have no cause to be ashamed of his be-
havior among men; his sisters look UP
to him for advice on all matters
+ for has he not been III the great
houses and seen everything? His mother
worries more over him than about all hel
other loved ones combined. Why? With
a mothers instinct she feels the danger
ahead though she cannot define it, She knows
that while her bright boy is treated famlll-
arly by his rich friends, when he becomes a
man a barrier will have mySteriouSly arisen
in many places-he will be made to feel
that while he is mentally their equal there
| is social inequality that cannot be over
looked. Unthinking people will. as much
by action as by word, constantly wound his
sensitive spirit and pierce his pride. Thous
sands Of men have found love for beauty
which has led them into a higher crcle
than that in which they were raised. TO be the
cause of their downfall. and this mother. il
she can succeed in building up and sustain
ing principle in her son. can we'll afford to
let others. better fitted perhaps, attend to
the characterization of his mind. She coun-
sells him constantly to ground himself III
right and to accept of what is offered
him by his wealthy acquaintance.
only what Is good and pure. Admire
beauty, study it, let it become part of the
soul itself, but do not permit its ruder asso-
ciates to enter the mind; beware of the
false pride which too often accompanies
luxury; do not mistake patronage for kind
ness and. above all, retain the simple habits
of the home household. For there is no
more vital cause Of unhappness and discon-
tent than the constant presence of desires
which only money can secure, and the ina
bility to satisfy them.
Such are the thoughts, and fears. and
wisdom of the poor mother of a brilliant
son.
~
And his wealthy friends? In many in
stances they see in him a lad of mental at
tainmentS superior to their own children
keen perception. quick wit and freedom
from ulgarity-quaIities most commend
able, and they appreciate the good influence
of such cOmpanionship for young children.
They know that childhood is the great
democracy and wealth cuts no figure at all
in boyiSh preferences. Later on, when
their boys and girls begin to think of So
ciety, it will be an easy matter to
drop the young plebian, for then his
presence will be embarrassing--it will be
necessary to explain who he is. and society
is suspicious where explanations are needed.
And so, having during his childhood days
encouraged the presence of lad whose
patent TO aristocracy is of natures own
making, and having by a thoughtless kind
ness made him familiar with the intricacies
OF the highest social requirements; having
permitted him to imagine himself-as in
truth he is-the peer of any he meets in
their elegant homes, at a time when the
Nf ,.,E, i =,
may be the making of a great man, they
suddenly. with heartless Indifference. drop
the young man and leave HIM by force OF
the native ability and a noble mothers
teaching to gain for himself the social place
which they had made him believe was Sc
cureiy his. This is one type. and all over
the escutcheon of their newly acquired arts
tocracy is wildly emblazoned the truthful
insignia of their kind: ''Shoddy!"
-
In the more truly refined social circles
the boy is taken into homes with no other
aims than his best good. Discerning peo-
pie see the natural capabilities of the young
ster-they intelligently recognize the ardent
admiration that things of beauty create in
him, and they find in this enthusiastic
young soul that sympathy regarding the
higher mental attributes that makes the
whole world kin, and raises the poorest to
seat which CroeSus vainly endeavors to
reach. Lucky the boy whose wealthy
friends are OF this type-their experience
vita the world is of kind to prepare him
for his man-life. They store his mind with
noble thoughts. they cultivate his naturally
refined nature. but they temper his love
for beauty by telling him plainly that i'll
the great whrl known as society, what is
known as the highest circle is too often al
most devoid of the things he so worships;
and that he who would enter. backed only
by personal worth, must expect many a
rebuff from his wealthy interiors. Wisdom
would counsel him to think long and care
fully, and then content himself with that
blessed bit of worldly philosophy, Every
thing comes to him who waits"
~
The doings of society were confined to
small gatherings in the main. With the
exception of Mrs. Harris reception there
were no large parties during the week, and
in the highest circles the quiet was almost
unbroken. January seems to be a favorte
month to be born in, Judging by the num-
Der of birth days that were celebrated dur
ing the week Just closed The Mikado,
Dudley Chase Post. and Lester masque-
rades afforded fun for many, while the
quieter enjoyment given by teas and small
Evenings at home was equally pleasur-
able to others. 1t wasa week of happiness,
as may be surmiSed from what follows.